Debbie Ford, Sandpoint Rotary Club board member, opened last Wednesday’s Rotary meeting by calling on everyone to be a key to action in their community, and across the world.

Sandpoint Rotary answered that call last year as evidenced by worked accomplished in the community.

The club donated $100,000 to the community last year through direct donations, or contributions through their trust. Of that amount:

• $75,000 went to the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

• $2,500 was donated to LPOSD resource closet, a program that gives clothing to students.

• $5,800 went to the LPOSD book trust

• $5,000 went to Food for Our Children

• $3,500 to Sandpoint High School’s Resilience Program

• $5,000 to Sandpoint Senior Center, and

• $3,000 to Better Together Animal Alliance

But Rotarians give beyond donations, they organized events that exceeded expectations in 2020.

The Rotary Golf Scramble completely filled all 18 teams in last year's event, exceeding expectations. Peg Tuddenham, organizer, said the element of social distancing played a role in the success of the tournament, which raised $12,000 and saw greater turnout than previous years.

Beyond donations and events, Sandpoint Rotary organized events that community members could participate in, called “work parties.”

During these parties, both community members and Rotarians got outside to realize their goals together.

Most notably, the soon-to-be Rotarian Trail. Located west of Dover, the two-and-a-half mile trail will be complete at the beginning of August. Partnered with Pend Oreille Pedalers, the two groups, and additional community members, are still working on the trail off Highway 2, on West Pine Street.

In a Facebook post, the Pend Oreille Pedalers say constructing the trail is “coming along nicely.”

In addition to work done, Sandpoint Rotary donated $2,000 to the construction of the trail, before additional fundraising.

Other work parties involved different kinds of outreach – like firewood rescue, where volunteers gather firewood to distribute to veterans and other community members that need it.

Rotarians are excited to help.

“We’re looking forward to putting our mark on the projects we’ve already done in the community,” said outgoing President Ken Wood.

Next year’s plans for the Rotary include restoring the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint, completing the already-under-construction welcome center at Pine St. Woods, and other forms of community outreach.